Protecting Your Health After A Crane Accident

With the development of more and more modern cranes, aerial lifts, work platforms, boom trucks and mobile cranes, an increasing number of accidents have been making the front pages of newspapers around the world. These large machines can be extremely dangerous; when accidents happen, serious injuries and fatalities are common.

Today, there are dozens of different types of fixed and mobile cranes, all highly specialized and geared toward specific tasks. Moreover, crane and lift manufacturers are increasingly marketing their products to a wider customer base, hoping to make the products more accessible.

Call Sullivan Law's Kansas City office at 816-945-8853 or 800-487-8066 to schedule your free case consultation today. Our goal is to secure the compensation you need to protect your health and financial security.

Common Causes Of Crane Accidents

Cranes can tip over. They can contact power lines resulting in electrocution. Loads being lifted or lowered can become unstable and fall.

Crane accidents occur for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common factors — the majority of which can be attributed to human error — include the following:

Defective or faulty crane machinery

Setting up the crane on unstable ground

Carrying a heavy or unbalanced load

Poor communication between the ground crew and crane operator

Slip and fall accidents on the crane or its rigging

Not enough experience or training to operate the crane

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States, mainly because of the heavy machinery and equipment that is involved with this type of work. Cranes are considered especially dangerous because of their large size, their operating difficulty and the required coordination between the crane's operator and the ground crew.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that about 82 crane-related fatalities occurred each year between 1997 to 2006. Another analysis indicated that 84 percent of crane-related fatalities involve the use of mobile cranes.

Even when a worker is properly trained, if the established safety regulations are not followed, or if the right type of crane is not used for the job at hand, the risk for serious injury is still significant.

Acquiring Compensation After A Crane Accident

A crane accident victim and their family have two potential sources of compensation. One is to file a workers' compensation claim, which is offered by the injured worker's employer. This program offers disability and medical coverage, as well as death benefits.

You may also be able to file a third-party liability lawsuit if someone other than a co-worker or employer contributed to the accident. For example, if the crane is defective, we can help you sue the manufacturer.

Through the years, cranes and other various forms of heavy equipment have become an area of particular skill for the attorneys at Sullivan Law. Our Missouri attorneys have a national reputation for obtaining excellent results in cases involving these types of equipment.

Contact Our Lawyers For A Thorough Case Analysis

We will perform a free investigation, speak with the top experts, interview witnesses and pursue full compensation for you under the law.

Call for a free confidential consultation with one of our attorneys at 816-945-8853 or 800-487-8066. You may also contact Sullivan Law online.

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